Why Not Purple?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T17:46:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a turd I was at posting last year... I plan to do better this year, and am shamefully bribing you for your forgiveness with holiday photos of the Skeeter-man. Am I forgiven?

O man, he certainly is a cheese! I needed some pictures for a craft project, but he was just standing there all stiff and formal. I thought maybe I could loosen him up a bit by asking for some "silly pictures," and that really let the genie out of the lamp. As you can see he really got into it. Then he managed to grab the camera and started taking pictures on his own. I let him snap away, and later deleted 3 very unflattering pictures of myself, 5 of his fingers (over the lens,) 7 of the tree, 4 of the TV and 14 pictures of play-dough. Yep, nuthin but play-dough. I'm seriously thinking he needs a little digital camera of his own when his birthday rolls around this summer. On the one hand it feels a little "expensive"for a five year old, but than I remember all the film and developing my mom paid for when I got my first camera, and it doesn't feel too extravagant anymore. Seriously, how many pictures of the same cat, out of focus and blurry does one kid need?

I have some big, scary/wonderful news to share soon, but right now I have to fly to the grocery store and by apples and soy milk. Ta!

Happy Halloween 2010!!

2011-10-31T15:12:00.000-04:00

Why hello! Didn’t think I was coming back, did you? I’ve meant to visit back for a while, apparently I haven’t been in the “mood” to blog for about 15 months. A lot has happened in that time. Skeeter turned 4, G turned 12, and we went to DisneyWorld. I’ve been in the hospital (briefly.) In fact for a little while last winter, Mom (bronchitis,) E (gall-bladder removal) and I (kidney stones) were keeping the ER staff pretty busy. Poor B, we really ran her ragged too. Work-wise I was busy too. Retirement reform, Early Retirement pushes in two of the retirement system’s my office administers. Lots of WORK, of course… Many great, knowledgeable friends retired or moved to other departments. Most positions have not been filled, and those that are mostly great new people who have a lot to learn. I swear, if I could put a shop-vac to my ear and suck out the knowledge I have and pass it around, I’d do it in a second!

I’m heading over to Skeeter’s house to hand out candy tonight while B and E take the little man trick-o-treating. To tide you over until I get this year’s pictures, here are some from last year. May I present Skeeter as Buzz Lightyear, with his jet-pack (aka his daddy.)

More later!

Skeeter is Three

2010-07-09T16:58:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday BFF Skeeter!!!!! Look who is a big boy now!

Chopstick food: Raspberries and Cheez-its

2010-04-16T12:14:00.004-04:00

Perhaps it is a bit early, but my Skeeter must know how to use chopsticks because someday he will be going to visit his cousin G in Taiwan. It can be a royal bitch to find a western -style fork when you go out to dinner, believe me! Thus we are starting sloooooow, and we are starting early. Jury-rigged starter chopsticks, thanks to the folded up wrapper the sticks came in, a rubber band, and a cool Internet site for instructions. We ate things big enough to grab tweezer-like with the chopsticks. He is getting pretty good with them, though sometimes you just gotta skip the utensils altogether and resort to le pingies. My chopsticks were regulation (No rubber band) but I did get a hand cramp. (Damn Carpal Tunnel!)
These pictures are from Good Friday. His day-care was closed so I took the day off to Skeeter-sit. The day was fun, but not drama free. One spanking, one time-out and a retaliatory tantrum (his, not mine.) Things went better for awhile and nap time was enjoyed by ALL. Things turned abruptly south when he puked up his crackers and fruit all over my kitchen floor. It looked better above than it did later...... Still a winner for him, he got an unscheduled bath (including Grandpa Reed's toy submarine) which is his Favorite thing under Grandma's supervision while Yea-yea gaggingly cleaned the floor.

Trains!

2010-04-15T12:07:00.002-04:00

What is it about little boys and trains??? He loves them so much.

Wearing Yay-yay's glasses

2010-03-31T11:57:00.001-04:00

And the sad thing is, I can't say I look this good in them....

L IS GOING TO WMU!!!!!!

2010-03-12T12:45:00.002-05:00

Woo Hoo!!!!! "God-daughter" is going to Western Michigan University!!!!! SHE GO IT. she got in. SHE GOT IN!!!!! She is going to apply to live in my old dorm. If you are sensing a WMU-Auntie K Nostalgia Tour 2010, you might be right!!! Better to embarrass her now before she is a Bronco that to have her peers witness it later. Woo Hoo!!! Now if she will just take a dang theatre class for gosh-sakes my joy would be complete.

HAPPY DANCE COMPLETE WITH BUTT WIGGLES!!!!

They are back.....

2010-03-09T14:57:00.003-05:00

Like vampires creeping from the earth at dusk, they arise. Cautious. Skittish Deprived of access to food and water by the arrival of their nemesis, they are slow to trust. They sense he has left, but are they sure? One of their number was caught earlier, held and enveloped almost beyond endurance before he escaped. They slink forward...look right...look left....HEY CATNIP MOUSE ON A STRING!!!!!! WOO HOO!

That's right Skeeter came to visit Sunday morning and stayed all day, much to the distress of the cats. Bing was loved a bit, but he WILL survive. All in all we (humans) had a really good day, but no pictures, I'm sorry to say. The more fun I have with him, the less think to grab the camera.

Our new fun is playing with trains. Last summer I bought some trains from a friend whose sons had outgrown them. Did I say trains? I mean multiple battery-operated Thom@s the Tank Train engines, train cars, tons of track, risers to make overpasses, tunnels, trees and a table with rolling storage drawers for all it. So cool!

Actually the table was in my living room for months, but it was so big I couldn't access the drawers well and we didn't use it. I just dismantled it recently and took all the stuff to the back bed room. A couple of weeks ago, he and his mommy came over and I took him back to grab a few pieces to play with. We lay down the tracks on the living room floor, but it wasn't really big enough. "We need more tracks!" I said and hurried down the hallway for more with him close on my heels. I distinctly heard SOMEONE (no one is fessing up)in the room behind us say "It's like there are two little kids not one." We increased the track and played for a while, then he looked up and said "More!" And he went flying down the hall with me at HIS heels. With a couple more trips down the hall, it him occupied for three hours or more the first time. He was so cute laying on the floor, eye level with the trains as they passed by, he "helping" them along as they passed.

Thank you, Lisa. These toys ARE the greatest.

What a bad, BAD blogger I have been...

2010-01-07T17:15:00.005-05:00

I have been away for so long, basically because a.) my life is boring and b.) I don't think anyone is paying attention to this blog except people who already know me. And they visit out of pity. After some serious consideration, I have decided I don't care... since I started this for me anyway, I'll keep it for me.

Below for the pity-viewers, I have 2 sets of Skeeter Christmas pictures. The first set I had done and the second Skeeters parents did. MY plan was to start a tradition of helping the little guy make presents for his parents and grandparents. This year is was pictures I would have taken and "he" would decorate picture frames for them. I underestimated the difficulty level of my proposition.

I told B I was taking Skeeter to my office because "everyone" wanted to see him and instead we went to the MALL. Now, please realise I hate going to the mall, and I had never been to one with a 2 and a half year old before. Getting him into the store, past the bra department without fingering all the wares (oooh!), then past the jewelry (pretty!!!), up the escalator (whee!!!!) and then past a larger than needed display of Disn*y (Pooh! Pooh!) holiday merchandise right outside the portrait studio (product placement or demonic marketing?) was hell. The actual picture taking went fine as long as it was the "Holiday" set that looked like a living room, but once it was swapped for a black backdrop he became shy and scared, and suctioned to my thigh...so endth the photo shoot. What followed was an excruciating 45 minutes with a brand new employee who tried to up-sell me hundreds of dollars worth of "keepsakes" and "irreplaceable memories" while Skeeter was bonging around the room and trying to get back to the Disn*y display outside (the MOUSE, Yea-yea, the mouse.) Finally, I said "gimme those in 5 x 7's and that in wallets" and got the heck out of there. Flying past the Disn*y, down the escalator, rushing around the jewelry and bounding through the bras. Outside, so close to our goal the little bugger shouted "NO!" pulled his hand out of mine and tried to run away in the parking lot. HEART FAILURE. I nabbed him quick and took him home for a nap (for both of us.) Below are the results, worth it to be sure....but not to be repeated as a solo covert operation again...

There I was, smug with myself for providing such a priceless gift documenting his 2 year Christmas without a body count, when in the mail I received what? That's right, professional Christmas pictures of the whole family!! (What the @#$%^@%^%^@%@!!) Truly lovely and glad I have them, but crap there went the uniqueness of our/my surprise, kinda.....

The following are some of these pictures B sent me electronically, though she isn't in any of these. The two of Skeeter and his daddy are great.

Well, bye-bye. It's snowing very hard here and it's time to leave. Happy 2010 everyone!

Look at the handsome little boy - 2 Year Pictures

2009-08-17T17:09:00.005-04:00

Here are this year's portraits of Mr. Cutie. I only wish they had one with his hair mussed up, he looks like such a little puck then....

Okay, the one above does look a little cheesy, kinda like a famous movie poster I can think of...

So sweet, but in fact he is probably trying to figure out how to get into some water, it's his favorite thing... Bath-time, water balloon's, squirty fish, sprinkler....as long as it's wet he is happy.

This Shot was for for Grandpa, lord knows it wasn't for Uncle A.

Ah!!!!! Dressed for his element!

Watertime Fun

2009-07-27T10:29:00.004-04:00

We started out in the sprinkler, but it got too cold. So back to our trusty squirty fish!

Getting to the bottom of the matter

2009-07-23T12:30:00.002-04:00

Explaining his theory on water ballons

2009-07-04T23:09:00.003-04:00

Sometimes he has to splain things s l o w to Yea-Yea, just to be sure she gets it....

Sprinkler TIme!!!!

2009-06-22T17:37:00.003-04:00

It was so dang hot and humid this weekend that I introduced my friend Skeeter to the fun of the kiddie sprinkler on Sunday. As you can see he took to it quite well....( Click on photo a better look at his facial expressions, they are a hoot.)

At first he was afraid, so Yea-yea had to run through the wiggly sprayers by herself, but slowly he became braver. I made the fatal mistake of demonstrating how to point one of the sprayers by refilling a squirt gun with it, and then no part of me was dry for the next 40 minutes. Little monkey!

Lazy Butt

2009-04-22T10:40:00.008-04:00

The sad truth is I have just been lazy and ignoring you, please forgive me. I CAN explain.

Aside from the fact that I have been sick with almost everything circling the planet this winter, my mom hurt herself. She fell and broke her ankle in January, and after an abortive attempt to go home from the ER with her "sprained" ankle, an ambulance ride and a horrid week on the oncology floor of the hospital (they had a spare bed,) trying to figure out why she couldn't walk, she left town. She needed to be in a rehabilitation facility and the good ones here in town had no room. So she chose to go to a brand new place where she grew up, that just happens to be owed by one of her brothers. For her this has been a very good choice, as she has had hot and cold running visitors from our big Swedish family and people she knew growing up. For me it means a half of every weekend is spent on the road visiting her. The other half of the weekend is spent trying to muster enough energy to start another work week, 'cause I am so dang tired. I did miss two weekends due to bad weather then illness, but she misses her kids so much, and I can't deny her 4 or 5 hours a week when she is going throgh so much pain. (Plus there is still some residual guilt from abandoning her in a youth hostal when she visted me in London on limited resources, but that is another sad tale I am not going into today....)

Sadly, I have been living off of fast food, and quick tricks (toasted baguette with cheese or canned soup) and it hasn't been very good for me. I just don't cook in single person quantities, and I don't like to eat the same thing for 6 days in a row. Seems like a waste to cook, so I haven't. When I have wanted a "real" meal I have been bumming them off my sister or ordering a steak with green beans and pasta from C@rraba car side service. I realized I haven't really been taking care of myself when I saw the sad state of my cooking onions.

That all changes now. Mom is coming home on Saturday and I can finally go back to cooking for plus one again. These past three months have been odd. The house is a pit, the cats have gotten VERY weird and I have confirmed my long held belief that I am not meant to live on my own. I am too solitary by nature, I need someone making sure I'm still alive on a regular basis. Although I sometimes feel defensive about "living with my mommy, " the truth is she can no longer live alone, I don't live off her (we split all expenses) and I do not want to live alone. Perhaps this "vacation" will cure me of my sheepishness on the subject. Perhaps not, since I feel compelled to rationalize things to you....

On prettier news, just look at how beautiful my G is. Her aunt (mother's sister) took her to a Taipei "Glamour Shots" shoot and it looks like she had a good time. A's favorite is the black and white picture, because her smile is less "fake-y," but I love them all! Can you believe she is TEN.

Woo-frickin-hoo

2009-03-30T16:56:00.004-04:00

I am having an “O” day. Starts with it and ends with it. With a “gawd” in between to make it alarming. We all have them, they come around every ten years or so and get more distressing the older you get…. Today is one of my turns. As in “OH MY GAWD, I’M 40!”

How the hell did THAT happen? I still have nightmares about forgetting I have midterms. (Usually in the 60 seconds before the instructor says “You may begin...” I realize I haven't studied all semester and/or I forgot I enrolled in the damn thing and it's too late to drop!)

How can I possibly be 40 with a mortgage, vested for retirement??? To quote Vizzini from The Princess Bride, “INCONCEIVABLE!” Sorry, had to wipe some spittle off the screen after that one.

The picture below is how old I feel...with a driver's license...and a nice pay check...:) Growing up and growing old is for the birds!

(G and and my cousin's daughter on a museum visit in 2007.)

Away too long

2009-03-04T12:04:00.003-05:00

Hello! I have been away too long. First it was the January Blahs unmotivating me, then we had some health issues in the family, (not just me this time.) I will write about that later... I just wanted to pop in for a quick moment and post some recent Skeeter-man photos, as I'm sure you must be going through withdrawal by now!!

Enjoy! And Happy March!

Christmas pictures

2008-12-29T14:54:00.003-05:00

The sad truth of the matter is that little skunk is getting really good at not holding still. As soon as he sees the camera, it becomes an elaborate "bob and weave" maneuver to avid the lens. As a consequence I don't have that many pictures that aren't of the back of him. Here are the two best ones.

He added the bow himself! I am not to blame..... okay, maybe just a little as I lead by example on this one.

I am definitely to blame for this!! Hee hee. I bought his a bunch of musical instruments, including a tambourine and cymbals! You should have seen his face the first time I smashed them together!! I think his daddy will enjoy them too. I just better not get them back on my birthday....

"Christmas" Day

2008-12-27T20:16:00.001-05:00

So
Tired....

Skeeter
Wore
Me
Out

Very
Happy
Day

Good
Night.....

Guess What? I'm a Hero

2008-12-26T21:30:00.004-05:00

Last night I had a thoroughly wonderful telephone call with G. Usually our phone conversations go like this:

Gugu K: How is school?

G: Fine.

Gugu K: Have you been making any art?

G: Yes.

Gugu K: How is your kitty?

G: Fine

Well you get the picture.... But last night we had a really great conversation, She was animated and telling stories about school, so much like when they all visited in the summer of 2007. She made me talk to her kitty, and made me promise not to tell Gugu B something. (Already broke that one, sorry.) The enthusiasm may have had to do with the Christmas presents Grandma and I sent. Her favorites were a pink jewelry box of a watch, necklace and earrings that can have the dial, band and stones swapped out (six different looks) and a little tube of Egyptian figurines. Yes, I bribe her for her love, and I don't care. Sometimes she was so excited, I had trouble understanding her English, but she was very patient with her Gugu if I had to ask her to repeat something.

So it turns out she had to write a paper for school about her hero, and IT WAS ME! My overwhelming heroic qualities, in case you are interested, are that I love kitties and I'm an "art-er" (or artist.) She didn't even mention how I want world peace! I am so tickled this smart little girl looks up to me. A told to not let it go to my head, but I think it is too late..... Would purple be too bold for my cape and utility belt?

Hurray, It's Christmas

2008-12-25T21:37:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! Merry Christmas, I hope you slept well. (Remember, we're pretending....)

When I was little, we would get up early on Christmas morning and open our presents from Mom, Dad and Santa. We would get to play with our toys a bit, eat breakfast, then is was everyone back in the station wagon and an eight hour trip to the Upper Peninsula to have Christmas Night with Grandma J, Dad's brothers, Aunt S and our cousins. Mom is one of 6 kids, around 30 first and second cousins on Mom's side. Dad is the oldest of 3 with 3 cousins total on Dad's side. The overall body count was higher in Mom's family, but the cousins in the U. P. were our ages, all our cousins on Mom's side were much older. Yep, we had playmates up on the farm, making it more fun.

There was also a LOT of snow at Grandma' J's, one year there was this EXCELLENT ice slide down the hill by Grandma's house that someone built. It was very fast (it was watered down and allowed to re-freeze every night) and very fun, but really quite close to the creek (pronounce that "crick") at the bottom of the hill. I remember winding up wet more than once, and having to go inside to thaw. I also remember the pajamas, Grandma J always gave us pajamas for Christmas.

Actually, today isn't really Christmas at all for me, which is probably why I am driveling on about Christmas' past. We are postponing Christmas until Saturday, because Skeeter and his parents are with Skeeter's other grandparents today. I understand why there need to be new traditions, AM NOT DISAGREEING WITH THE RATIONAL, but it still doesn't keep this day from being lousy and weird. It was a last minute switch, so even the Christmas dinner is postponed. So what to do for the un-Christmas dinner? The only restaurant I could find open was our favorite Chinese place, bless those non-Christians. Egg roll anyone?

Pretend it's still Christmas Eve....please

2008-12-25T12:35:00.004-05:00

Okay, okay, only the fourth day of my vow to blog everyday for 2 weeks and I blow it....In my defense, Skeeter just wore me out!!! I went to bed at SEVEN. so lets use the "Way-Back machine" and pretend it is still Christmas Eve..........

Traditionally for my family Christmas meant a lot of time in a station wagon. Mom and Dad would pile us in the car. We would drive an hour to Grandma R's house and have a big pot lock with my mom's siblings and their family's. The food was always great, but the highlight was always that Grandma would make a bit pot of her homemade Chicken and Egg Noodles. And I mean HOMEMADE. Nobody could make noodles like my grandma.

After dinner, Aunt D would sit down at the piano and play Christmas songs and we would all sing along. When we got to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", the MAN himself would come in to pass out presents. We (or our parents) exchanged names, so there was always a present from an aunt, uncle or cousin, but the best of all was always from Grandma. She would knit a hat or mittens to keep you warm (boring), but there was also a TUB of her dried fruit. Apples, peaches, and pears. Homemade. She had a good quality dehydrator long before the cheap ones were available on every other infomercial. Chewy and sweet, in jumbo recycled ice cream containers, they were always passed out with the understanding she would get them back in time for next year. Then it was time put on our jammies, lots of hugs and good-byes, then piling into the back of the station wagon into a makeshift "bad" of sleeping bags for the drive back home to our real beds and our own Christmas morning.

Okay, I'm going to take a break here, we will pretend it is time to go to bed on Christmas Eve, and I'll write more about Christmas day later.

Ta! Pretend to sleep tight!

Be@enie Tree

2008-12-23T15:38:00.005-05:00

This is actually an idea I stole from my friend Jxxxie, to use be@nie babies instead of regular ornaments. The first time we did it because I didn't feel like hauling all the Xmas crap up from the basement. This year we did it for Skeeter.

It's a little hard to see them all from this angle, many are pushed back into the tree. The first time Skeeter saw our tree, he cocked his head to the side, studied it, then walked over and started taking be@nies off. He then handed them to me with a very solemn expression, as if he were saying: "Yea-yea, this is not where you keep your toys..." When I put them all back in the tree, he seemed a little annoyed with me. We will see what he does tomorrow. His day-care will be closed, and I get him ALL DAY!!! We are going to have fun! I am a little concerned, because we now have all our packages under the tree. He KNOWS how to unwrap presents very well, thank you. Let's see if I have to say "No-no" all day.

I wanted to mention I had a lot of fun this year decorating packages. Instead of adding tags, ribbons, and bows, I used a silver marker to address the packages and draw pictures. Very satisfying! No individual masterpieces, but as a group they are very cool to see.

Two days to go! Merry Christmas!

Remembering Pam Am Flight 103

2008-12-22T12:29:00.005-05:00

I'll be honest, I had forgotten the exact date, but this morning when I woke up and @bc was showing news footage from 20 years ago, I was instantly transported back...

It was evening. I was folding a blanket, home on Christmas break. I had just gotten home from my holiday job. I had heard the tragic news earlier in the day, of course, but it wasn't until that instant it hit me. Jxxxie was flying home from London that day.

I sat down fast. And did nothing. Just sat there looking at the TV. My brother and his friend came in the room, (I don't know when.) A noticed I was acting strange, asked what was wrong. I repeated for him what I had just realized. "Jxxxie is flying home today."

It was all so very surreal. A and I had just visited Jxxxie for Thanksgiving break. I probably didn't even have my pictures developed yet.

A or his friend grabbed the phonebook and looked up Jxxxie's parents' number. Where do they live? How do you spell the last name? One of her brother's answered. With difficulty A explained I was her friend, he was my brother and I was worried. I remember thinking at the time how odd that my brother the word-aholic couldn't seem to string together a complete sentence as he tried to convey concern while not breaking the news to Br if he didn't know already.

She was fine. She wasn't on the plane. She was ok. Later we learned she HAD been booked on Pam Am 103, but raised a stink over the meal choice. She was put a flight leaving a few minutes later. She came to visit a few days later, and I was able to see she was fine for myself.

That dread came back so immediately this morning, I'm still a little numb. My heart and prayers go out to all those who lost someone that day. Bless you wherever you are, bless us all.

It's been a long time..

2008-12-21T15:34:00.005-05:00

I'm sorry I have been away so long, I just haven't been in a blogging mood. Had a little dental drama, an abscess and root canal (and yes, I DID pronounce it Woot Cannnal for the better part of the day.) It now looks like the infection isn't all cleared up, and I have to go back to the endodontist for a recheck. Ho Ho Ho

As usual, I have been having a ball Christmas shopping. I refuse to admit I have gone overboard, but there are a MESS of presents under the tree for Skeeter -man, and I almost dragged my arms out of their sockets hauling G's packages to the post office.

Looks like I'll have a light workload the next two weeks, my office is closed both Wednesdays and Thursdays. Normally I would work the three other days of the holiday week. I think it isn't fair for those with children to be forced to leave their kids so I can have a day off during the holidays. If I had kids, or even plans, I might feel different.... However this year as a reward for good work done in a crappy year, anyone who wants the 12/26 and 1/02 off may take them. Management is not enforcing minimum staff coverage. In my section only one person is going to work the Fridays. So, two five-day week-ends in a row, Woo Hoo!

And thus, with all this free time, I plan to make things up to you.... I do feel really bad about not blogging, and in guilt and friendship, I think I will be blogging everyday for the rest of the year. A pre-New Years resolution, if you will. Get some better blogging habits ingrained before work picks up again in January.

And now a treat! Skeeter's very first school picture. I don't remember my daycare ever doing this, but then again, my pre-school wasn't attached to a real school that was taking pictures anyway. Doesn't he just look like he is planning some mischief.!

The Pottery

2008-11-26T15:26:00.006-05:00

This is Potters Mark Pottery where I take classes twice a year. None of the pots in the picture are mine. This is Jerry's yearly sale he held last week-end. I always go to drool over his stuff, but this year I bought a corn bread baker with the most lovely red glaze...(opps...more drool.) I was talking to Jerry's wife Mary as I tried to control my saliva glands, and she said it was a new glaze he had mixed up! A true red is a tough one to get unless you go to a commercial glaze, you see. This means it might be available to ME in the spring class. Woo Hoo!

Really I took these pictures to try to lure a co-worker to come play with the clay next time. I don't think it worked, but looking at the photos today made me think someone out there might like to see them.

The local is just so peace full. Can you see why I love my Wednesday afternoons?

FYI - If you see something you love, it was probably sold :) ...but I can put you in touch with Jerry and he might be able to make you something like it. Leave me a comment with your email address. I'll delete the comment, promise.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween

2008-11-17T10:09:00.002-05:00

As promised, Skeeter pictures. Isn't he the cutest thing since Grover! I don't have a lot of time right now, so I'll have to post later.

A fairly good Friday.

2008-10-06T10:18:00.003-04:00

Friday was a good day altogether. I worked a half day and went to the eye doctor for my yearly Diabetic Retinopathy exam. Good news is no sign of damage to my eyes from diabetes and the pressures are normal. Pesky news is they have to dilate my peepers to do it. Yuk.

Better Good news is I arranged to pick Skeeter up from his school, and we had an Auntie Yea-Yea day. He has graduated from the infant room to the toddler room, and he loves it. I had never been in the toddler room before, and I must say at first it was a little ...unsettling. All these kids start coming at you, smiling...drooling...talking....."hi......hi......hi......" I couldn't really see them (remember...eyes were dilated) and I didn't recognize Skeeter in all the Stepford-Zombie children. Then I saw my friend, he grinned at me and the little staggering children stopped seeming so menacing... They really are nice kids (although the excessive drool still bothers me and my healthy gag-reflex.)

So we went to Skeeter's house and played. He spotted a little freebie voice recorder I had hanging from my purse, and it is now his new favorite thing. I sang a little song into it which he liked, but apparently the best button of all is the erase button, so I was singing into the little voice recorder a lot.

Oh! We had so much fun!

Punkin Patch Fun

2008-09-28T18:51:00.005-04:00

We met Skeeter and his parents at the local Cider Mill for a pumpkin carrying contest. For a $12 registration fee, you get to keep all the pumpkins you can carry for 10 feet. So we went out and picked pumpkins....

And Skeeter guarded them ...
After inspecting them (just maybe not as carefully as he should have at this moment) he later licked a few to check for freshness....
Oh yes! This looks like a fine crop indeed!
Guess it's time to kick back and relax for the ride to the finish line..

Sorry, I don't have any actual picture of E carrying the pumpkins......B and I loaded E up, and Skeeter waited with Grandma at the finish line. E managed to carry 19 to the finish line. Most are going to Skeeter's school, a some are going to be carved at home too.

Afterwards we all headed back to the bakery, and had cider and fresh warm donuts. Yummy. A very nice Sunday

Introducing Twinkie the Wonder Cat

2008-09-28T18:41:00.002-04:00

AKA - G has a new friend. Which is great, as little kids in our family are genetically required to own felines. Seriously! Skeeter is already 2 up on her...

Mini Monster paralyzes all at B@ies R Us

2008-09-14T14:35:00.002-04:00

*NEWS FLASH* Cute yet fast little monster seen barreling down the aisles Lansing store. Darling and highly prone to giggles, it is rumored the fiend can only be stopped at the sight of balloons or watermelon chunks. If sighted, hug and kiss profusely.

Goodbye my boy.

2008-09-06T13:32:00.004-04:00

Victor-Buzz in better days.

I had to put down my Buzz today. He is the only cat I ever took to college with me. He was seventeen, diagnosed with thyroid problems and a heart murmur when he was ten. I've been shoving pills down his throat for seven years. Finally his quality of life was so poor, I needed to help him go.

He was old . He was sick. He was sweet. He gave kisses upon request. I miss my Kalamazoo Room-mate already. I don't want to write anymore.

Practical Joker

2008-08-15T10:25:00.005-04:00

The Prankster

His Tools

That little stinker totally made a fool of me with this. When the red plunger is pushed, music start playing and the toy throws the colored balls into the air, then are caught in the basin and funneled through again. The problem is not all the balls land in the catch basin, and I end up chasing the balls all over the living room. So usually I hold my hand 6 inches over the basin and direct the balls to where they need to go.

Tuesday night we had had a fun evening. We had introduced little boy to spaghetti, which had been twirled around like a helicopter blade on one point. (He is a quick learner, I only had to show him TWICE.) I am on the other side of the room, collecting my things, getting ready to leave. Skeeter looks me straight in the eye, walks over to the toy, pushes the button, and WALKS AWAY while still LOOKING STRAIGHT AT ME. It took me a couple of seconds to realize that the colored balls are about to start shooting out. "NO ONE'S MANNING THE BALLS!" I shouted as I rushed over to the toy, but I had already missed 2 projectiles that went who knows where.

As I turn around with my hand over the tube, I see Skeeter. He is sitting in the middle of the floor, HUGGING himself, swinging his body from side to side, laughing so hard that no sound is coming out! It was totally pre-meditated! That little booger! Lord help me when he is old enough to make crank phone calls....

Happy Family

2008-08-07T12:57:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to my brother and his wife on their remarriage last Thursday. Dear S, I am so happy to have you as my sister-in-law again! And I know G is so very happy.

These are pictures freshly sent by A, from a family trip to Nantou immediately after the wedding. According to various sites on the net, Nantou county is in the central region of Taiwan and is famous for its mountain scenery and is the only county in Taiwan without a coastline. hmmmm. Interesting. And it seems they have roller coasters and and merry-go-rounds too.

Yep, those look like mountains behind my beautiful niece. I also love the purple poncho.

I don't really know why pointing out the way to the ladies room is so important...I included this photo to illustrate my brother's appalling fashion sense. My sister and I once caught him walking down the street in a bright red shirt, bright blue jeans, sunny yellow socks and brown sandals. And he couldn't blame his mommy for dressing him funny because he was a sophomore at U of M! He so obviously got his fashion taste from our father, who thought three or four different plaids could be worn together because they we coordinating colors.

I love you all!

The Master Plan

2008-07-30T23:45:00.004-04:00

Well, well....lets see where we are on the Skeeter Plan.....

Make sure he giggles with glee at the sight of bubbles. Check.
Make sure he loves to play with balloons. Check.
Teach him to dance and sing silly songs. In Progress.
Teach him to use a squirt gun. In Progress.
Teach him to like being squirted with a squirt gun by Yay-Yay. Check.
Teach him to love to play "art" like his cousin G. Pending.
Teach him to love riding in my convertible with the top down. Check! Check!

My corruption of the child is progressing nicely. Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Beautiful Girl

2008-07-24T12:20:00.007-04:00

G, darling, I LOVE your new haircut!! Grandma tells me you don't like it, but I think it is very chic and lovely. Looks like a very good way to wear your hair in the hot summer time. I especially like the way it curls around your ears. Grandma thinks you look like Tinkerbell. A good haircut for a swimmer to have! If I thought my big chubby face would look good with this haircut, I would get it in a minute! Actually, I think I had a haircut a lot like this when I lived in London. I'll see if I can find a picture to show to you.

I can't believe it has been almost a whole year since you came to visit us in Michigan. I miss you so much! Especially playing art. I still have all the wonderful pictures you made for me and the play-d0h bunny.

Baby Skeeter is sooooooo much fun, I wish you were here to play with us. I have introduced him to squirt guns and bubbles, AND he REALLY REALLY like to play with balloons. I'm sure you could teach him more fun games than I can. We will just have to wait and see when we can all play together again. By the way, he doesn't seem to like the 3 bears song and Itsy-Bitsy Spider as much as you did. :(

I love you, I LOVE YOU, I love you

Gugu K

Bubble Costumes - Punk Rocker

2008-07-11T10:22:00.004-04:00

Sadly, the simpler games I play with Skeeter, like piggy-toe kisses and whose-pulling-the-socks-off are no longer the laugh riot they use to be. Happily we are discovering new games, and they include making Bubble Costumes during bath time. We started off as Bubble Elvis, and have broadened out to include Bubble Football Player, Bubble Garden Gnome, Bubble Zeus, Bubble Mousek@teer, and of course, the Bubble Punk Rocker (Oy!) I was between cameras so I didn't catch most in pictures, but we will work to re-create some of these sudsy looks in baths to come.

Did I mention he is as cute as a bee's knees? Still true!

Celebrating the 9th of July

2008-07-07T00:26:00.006-04:00

AKA Happy Birthday Skeeter!

Okay, it wasn't exactly the 9th, but this Saturday Skeeter-Man had his first Birthday party! It was a lovely day at his Grandma and Grandpa's cottage (E's parents.) It wasn't too hot, although we did chase the shade across the yard. Earlier this week Skeeter was given his first balloon, and it was such a big hit, I bought a dozen for the occasion. His daddy out did me, and bought a tank of helium and lots more balloons. It was a balloon rich afternoon.

Here he is walking with Grandma C's help. It won't be long before he doesn't need any help at all.
Apparently he is destined to be a bacon lover, he REALLY liked chewing on the piggy toy. For a "no gift" occasion, the boy made out like a bandit. I broke the rule like everybody else, I gave him a tee shirt with our rules, then his Mommy's rule (Ignore Aunt K's rules) printed on it.
Such a cutie...

and we learned that cake is for squishing, not for eating. He didn't want to eat it unassisted, and when his mommy gave him some, he cried. Too sweet, I guess.

It is hard to believe it has been a whole year already, and yet it feels like he has been here so much longer. Happy Birthday little man, the fun is just starting... just you wait until I crack open the Pl@y-Doh!

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T13:13:00.003-04:00

I of course am totally out of practice on the whole Father's Day thing as my own father died when I was eleven, but I helped out Skeeter ('cos that's what Yea-yea's do....) His Mommy found a digital frame/key chain and we loaded it up with pictures of his boy. I thought it would be a good idea to have a special Daddy's Day picture as the first image. Of course it takes a minimum of 20 shots to get a good picture of an active baby. These are the best of the lot. Enjoy!

Thank you very much!

2008-06-01T11:08:00.004-04:00

Bubble Elvis, ladies and gentleman! The bubble sideburns were the best part. Bath time is SO much fun....

So apparently I have been taken to task for not posting...sorry. I haven't been on the computer much, except for at work. I go through spats where the thought of turning on the computer at home after sitting in front of one all day makes be nauseous. (...but what doesn't make me nauseous on the lizard spit!) We are gearing up for the busiest time of year at work. Most of what I do is investigating problems. There are things that have been wrong for years, that the member never bothered to look at. Now that they want to retire, they have to be fixed NOW or the earth stops revolving...... Normally I am very sympathetic and make the research and resolution my top priority, but times it by 10 per day right now. And the solutions run through a nightly batch processing. It usually takes three days to correct anything, so not problem is solved immediately. Plus my very small section is down by two people due to a medical leave and a vacation to Hawaii so I am having to man the customer call center too. It makes me realize I haven't had a real vacation in over a year. It won't be this month, but I think maybe I need a week off in July..... With a Skeeter day or two strategically scheduled in, of course :) Oh, I'm bitching too much....

Gotta go shower and get ready to go out. We are heading the the 1st Sunday Gallery walk in Old Town today. You have a good day!

And my new name is.......

2008-05-13T10:10:00.002-04:00

My name is Kay. It's not short for anything. Not Katherine, Kathleen, Katie, Katrina, nothing. And because it not possible to shorten my name into a nickname, my childhood nickname was my name doubled. Kay-kay. I have been Kay-kay for as long as I remember, in fact there is brick by the fireplace where I wrote it in permanent marker as a small child (and was my mother PISSED.) As an adult, children will still call me Kay-kay, though I do frown on adults doing so. Georgie of course calls me Gugu (aunt.)

Skeeter now has four word under his belt. Mumum, Dada, Itties (kitties) and Yea-Yea (Kay-kay.) He may know more, but these are the ones he has said in my presence. The first two times he called me Yea-yea, I didn't catch it, and when B informed me he had just called me Yea-yea I thought it was motherly wishful thinking. But when a 10-month ball of cute crawls up to you, pulls himself up on your pant leg, stretches his arm up to you and clearly says "Yea-Yea!" there is no denying you have just been called by name.

The pictures below are of my Skeeter getting a bath. I love the purple bottle brush you can see behind his head like a poppy growing out of his skull.

G and her little friend

2008-05-06T13:30:00.005-04:00

My brother and G were dog sitting for G's aunt this week-end. Better watch out G, Kitty-kitty Bing-bing might get jealous......

Skeeter or Scooter?

2008-05-01T22:27:00.002-04:00

That's right folks, little man can crawl!!!! And he has a mind of his own......

Ugly Shoes

2008-04-28T10:04:00.002-04:00

What, OH WHAT, kind of world do we live in where THIS travesty is allowed to happen to a Birk*nstock! Do we really need to deface this noble shoe with a Bed@zzler?!?!? I am just sick!

Halt, who goes there?

2008-04-25T18:03:00.002-04:00

Attention Lurkers!!! Reveal and make yourselves know! Leave me a comment if you visit.

If I'm only doing this for myself, what's the point of spellcheck?!?!?!?

Somebody LIKES frozen custard

2008-04-25T13:39:00.003-04:00

Last night I went to visit my friend Skeeter and he was so pooped we didn't get to play at all! Okay, maybe a little. But he slept in my arms for over two hours until it was time to head home for my own bed. Ya know what? Cuddle time is really good too!

On the pottery scene, I have my first pottery "class" of the season on Wednesday and it was BLISS. I have been finding myself irritated and annoyed with some of the newer students for the past couple of terms. Nice, nice people, BUT......they spend all their time chatting because this is their only social outlet and hogging the equipment when I'm trying to WORK. Yes, they are GETTING IN MY WAY!!! So this term I asked Jerry if I could come from 2:30 to 4:30 instead of 12:30 to 2:30. Truth is, he doesn't spend any real time teaching me anymore, and if I need his input, I know where to find him and I do ask him. He was totally okay with it. In the past he has always let me stay past class time if I chose, and has in fact allowed others to stay late if I am there too. Really, he is getting a studio minder for free on the odd days that someone wants to make-up some missed class time. Win-win!

Anywho......I was working in his little studio in the middle of his property in the middle of nowhere. It's wooded, peaceful. The back door was open, a nice breeze was blowing in, the radio tuned to a soothing classical station, and the sound of the birds chirping in through the open screen......heaven. I made four pieces, two I liked, two are crap. But that's okay, I was just spending time getting reacquainted with my old friend clay.

Giggle Fest

2008-04-16T08:20:00.000-04:00

So apparently I am HILARIOUS while spooning up pureed carrots. Even though the last time I tried to feed Skeeter-man his baby food there was an unfortunate incident involving an eye full of pears for the boy and a big crying fit for both of us, B insisted I try to feed him again last night. She claims I have to get it right sometime (ha!)

There I sit with the baby spoon of commercial baby food poised for delivery... He takes one look at my face and starts to giggle. I can't help myself, I laugh at him (because he so sooooooo dang cute when he giggles and he can get me started in an instant.) That makes him laugh harder. Which makes me laugh more, and we are off on a giggle marathon while the spoon of orange glop shakes in mid air. Eventually I got most of the food in him (or on him, whatever) but my side still hurts from all the laughing.

How can one little boy-critter be so happy so much?

Giving up the ghost, and going to the nurse...

2008-04-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

Okay, I can't take it anymore! I'm going already! I have the afternoon off to see the kidney specialist at 3:00, so I weaseled an appointment with the NP at my doctor's office at 4:20. Hall's Plus and Vicks Formul@ 44 are helping a little, but not enough. I have this husky bar hag/smoker-esque voice that is bugging the cr@p out of me and my blood sugar has been elevated. (Probably because the OTC products have high fructose corn syrup or glucose listed as the 5th and 12th ingredients and 7th ingredient respectively.) I am also experiencing coughing until I vomit almost every morning. Bleck! Uncle! I say, uncle!!!!

On the bright side, today is Skeeter Thursday and BFF is 9 months old as of yesterday. I'm going to pick up some gyros on the way to B's. Lamb, feta, Skeeter...what more could be better!
Oh yes, Skeeter likes ponies....

Typhoid Skeeter

2008-04-02T11:08:00.000-04:00

We are all sick. First Skeeter, then B, E, ME, and now Grandma. Raging coughs and mondo snot. I was playing with Skeeter and he juicy coughed all over my face. Bleack...... B claims I couldn't have gotten it from him then, as he was already on antibiotics, she probably passed it on to me. But all I keep thinking of is that movie "Outbreak." He is the cute little monkey and we are all goners... Ah the joys of a child in daycare and the passing around of grubby germs in the under 4 year set. (sigh...)

A Very Nice Weekend

2008-03-24T10:36:00.000-04:00

It has been a very good weekend filled with good friends and family. It all started early on Friday with a full day of babysitting Skeeter. Yay!

Next up Friday evening I was able to chat online with my brother and my wonderful niece G. Her Easter package from Gugu K had arrived already and Daddy let her open it. It made very good time, only six days to get to the other side of our planet. A sent me a bunch of pictures, including this one of G in the PJs I sent for Easter. (Please note the Santa Claus still up in the background. I would mock him more, but since I still have my Christmas tree stand in the living room, perhaps I won't...)

Saturday brought a very nice baby shower in Grand Rapids in the afternoon and an evening with my best friend J. I was a little late leaving the house because Skeeter and his parents stopped by so kind E could clear our driveway of snow. So Skeeter and I HAD to get his pigs kissed, sing a song, blow some bubbles, sing another song.... you get the idea.

The baby shower was fun, although I couldn't participate in the diaper game. I couldn't even watch others inspect the melted candy bars in the diapers without getting queasy. Since the guests of honor are two of the few people who ever read this blog, I would also like to take a moment and thank them for inviting me. I had a ball and it was so nice to see them after all this time! Then I popped down to Portage to visit with J and L. After taking some gratuitous ribbing for forgetting L's birthday and catching up a little, J and I headed out to dinner. (Point in fact: I DID remember her birthday was the 25th, but I thought is was the 25th on the 23rd when I called... and I think I should get points for that!)

Sunday afternoon was Easter fun with Skeeter! Since he is way too little for Easter candy, Mom and I bought a toy for him, and doggone it, he KNEW it was for him! First he had to lick all the pieces, but then he got down to some serious playing. He also didn't mind wearing the bunny ears. Yes, a very good weekend

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T12:29:00.000-04:00

Two Good-Lookin' Kids

2008-03-14T10:27:00.000-04:00

These are two of my three favorite kids on the planet. If you have ever glanced at this blog before, you are familiar with my nephew, whom I have nicknamed Skeeter. This lovely girl is my best friend's daughter L. She was my first special kid, the first one to call me Aunt K. I actually think of her as my "god-daughter," even though I an not actually. I lived with her mother through her pregnancy, I was in the labor room, I watched her get her first bath and I got to give her her first bottle in the hospital. She is now sixteen, and I feel old, old, old..... These pictures were taken before Christmas, but I have been pokie in asking for copies from my brother-in-law and sister.

Hello Mr. Cutie!

2008-03-14T08:40:00.000-04:00

Yes, I put the toy on his head, but I'm not the one who took the picture.

Spring is in the air!

2008-03-10T22:21:00.000-04:00

To most people this may mean warm weather, spring flowers and more time in the out of doors. To me, this means it's almost time to head back to the pottery studio. Woo Hoo! Six weeks away to be exact. Break out the bubbly and dust off the clay tools, it's time to get dirty!

Here is a picture of one of a series of pieces I have been playing with for the past year. I love the glaze, chocolaty/toffee brown with black and navy reflections in it. I brushed the detail with copper carbonate, and it burns through the glaze with a metallic gleam like wrought iron.

Man, I'm getting my sketchbook right now! There is no time to waste. I'll probably post more pictures as my spring fever takes over!

Bubble Boy is on the blog!

2008-03-09T23:35:00.000-04:00

I don't have an awful lot to say today....it has been a lovely, relaxing week-end. Skeeter and his mommy came over on Saturday. We played and played and played... B is manning the camera, I'm manning the bubbles and Grandma is manning Mr. Cutie.

Two red heads taking a nap

2008-03-09T23:23:00.000-04:00

There is no two ways about it. My mother has stolen the heart of my orange beastie. She denies it of course, but only because she doesn't want to take a turn at the litter box with a shovel.

Where oh where has my little G gone....

2008-03-05T08:29:00.000-05:00

*Big fat hint* I'm afraid no one has sent me any recent pictures of my favorite 9-year old lately....(sigh) *yes this hint is for YOU, brother mine* This is one of my favorite pictures from her first visit to America, playing in Lake Michigan. I really hope there is some way she can visit again this summer and we can play art in "our" craft room. *oh yea! Another REALLY big hint*

I want to play art with you too, Kiddo! I just can't figure out a way to do it through the Internet.

Granola and no Skeeter

2008-03-03T01:04:00.001-05:00

I am in the midst of Skeeter withdrawal, and man, it is HELL. My sister and her family are in the U.P. (that's the Upper Peninsula to the random lurker not familiar with Michigan) visiting my father's family. I had a Skeeter-less "Skeeter Thursday" and am not looking forward to the Skeeter-less Tuesday coming up. How can one little 8-month old boy rule my life like this!

Anyway...below is my most recent favorite picture of Skeeter-Man. I've been looking at it frequently and laughing/muttering/shouting/saying "Where is my best friend Skeeter?!?!?"

So my other newest obsession is making my own granola. It's dead easy, makes a lot and is very yummy. I am not sure I can buy cereal ever again. I found the recipe here, at another of my new favorite things. This batch I substituted maple syrup for honey and added walnuts and pumpkin seeds instead of pecans or almonds. And added dried cherries, yum!

On sadder news, I found out this week that an old friend had died over two years ago. We had lost touch. He moved away and neither one of us was a very good pen pal.... I saw him about 6 years ago, we traded numbers, but I lost his and never heard from him I couldn't get him out of my mind all day on Thursday, so I searched for him on the Internet, and I found his obit. It is just so sad to think of a world without Dennis in it, sadder still to think it has been without him for TWO YEARS. So outrageous, so wonderful he was. Sometimes life is so shit.

The best donuts in the world!

2008-02-21T00:37:00.000-05:00

Yes, yes enjoy your Dunk*n Don*ts or Kr*spy Kre*ms if you must, but for my money THESE are the best donuts on the planet. Sw**twater's only has 3 stores, and two of them are in Kalamazoo where I went to college, one right by campus. More than once I can remember taking a break from whatever I was doing at the theatre in the middle of the night and running to get coffee and a donut. Usually this was between midnight and dawn, thank god they are open 24 hours.

I was in the Kzoo area last week visting my great friend J, and I had to stop on my way home to pick up a variety to share at work the next day. This is of course so I don't have to make a decision right there in the shop, but can torture myself the next morning. My classic favorite is the Black Forest (cherry filled, dipped in glaze and rolled in chocolate donut bits) but there is something to be said for the New York Cheesecake (cheescake filling with strawberry frosting) In the end I went with one of their new products I had never seen before, the Caramello. It is the carmel filled lovely you can see on the beautiful (if I do say so myself) plate above. Knowing I would be enjoying a donut later, I took some precautions. I had to have an all protein breakfast, I waited until 10:00 for my first taste and savored it a little at time for 4 hours.... and it was totaly worth it!

If you are ever in Battle Creek or Kalamazoo Michigan, I heartily recommend you endulge!

A clever way to call myself a klutz

2008-02-14T15:46:00.000-05:00

This morning after tripping over MY OWN feet, I made this observation about myself....

"She's not smart, not a looker, but she sure can challenge gravity!"

Sheesh!

Oh, what a bad blogger I have been.

2008-02-13T09:40:00.000-05:00

I have been so uninspired! I have my excuses…. I haven’t been feeling well… I have new duties at work that are depressing the shit out of me…. It has been so fricken cold... And sad to say, when I have been at the computer I have been driveling away my time playing computer games instead of posting. Turn back the clock 24 years, picture really big hair, throw in some "oh my gosh! Fer sure! As if!" and this is exactly how I avoided my 10th grade history term paper!

The top on my unhappy list is this. One of my boys, my senior pet Buzz, is in the beginning stages of kidney failure. He also has a thyroid condition and heart murmur. I have been stuffing meds down his throat since 2001, and I am well aware this is where the end was heading. Still I am wracked with the dilemma of having to put down a beloved pet. I give all my four-legged friends fantastic and long lives. Buzz is 17 years old, so no spring chicken, but all my cats that don’t meet an accidental end live to be 17 or 18. With the exception of 3 months in 1992 when he lived with me in college (my room-mate was beating him when I wasn’t around,) everyday has been Happy Cat day for him. Heck, our dog PeeDee the Lhasa Apso lived to be 17, they have a 13 year life expectancy. My secret? I personally think it is better living through gratuitous itchies, as I don’t buy any fancy food. They are indoor/outdoor cats and medical attention usually limited to an emergency basis, so who really knows.

Buzz is so skinny but not in any pain (yet.) He is slower yet still himself. Aside from not wanting him to ever suffer, my problem is pet expenses are getting too dear. The special food he now needs is $34.00 for 24 cans, his meds run @$50.00 a month and blood work is running $75.00 a visit. If he were in pain, I could put him down in an instant. I am perhaps too sentimental, but I just CAN"T put down a animal that depends on me because of money. I don’t think I can live with myself if I did that.

I need to not dwell on this so much…need happier thoughts. So guess what 7 month old has his first tooth? I’ll give you one clue.....but do you really need it

Lucky Ducky

2008-01-24T14:33:00.001-05:00

Six Month Cutie

Shall we jump? (bum bum-bum)

2008-01-20T15:12:00.000-05:00

Hands down (or rather feet down) being in the jumper is Skeeter's favorite activity. That is, after cuddling with Aunt Kay, because I KNOW he loves doing that too.

The Ker-chunk, Ker-chunk, Ker-CHUNK that resounds though the house when he really gets it going is impressive, to be sure. He doesn't stop when he is thirsty, but demands a hydration break (see center pic.) You get pulled into it too...my head will nod up and down to the rhythm of the jump, which just pleases him more and gives me a headache. He jumps until his hands and feet are past cold, but even then he doesn't stop. The only clue you have that he is done is his cry, but the Ker-chunk goes on until he is pulled out. Instead of the dance of the red shoes, it's the bounce of the navy slippers....

Minty Fresh Brows

2008-01-20T00:57:00.000-05:00

I have a single hold out to feminine vanity. I gave up make-up years ago. I rarely wear jewelry anymore. My hair style could be charitably called "functional." But I still pay money to have my eyebrows shaped. It truly is the difference between Cro-Magnon-me and civilized me. This simple grooming act immensely improves my outlook on the world in general and my life in particular, but there is a price to pay.

Once the pale mono-brow has been tamed with hot wax, tweezers and itty-bitty scissors, the stylist applies a special goo to the offended skin to keep the redness down and inhibit a future errant eyebrow crop. This miracle glop must contain menthol or mint of some kind. When I leave the shop, and burst out into the bracing Michigan winter day, the cold hits my upper face like a slap. What is left of my eyebrows instantly ascend into my hairline and tears burst forth. I assume the startled expression of Mrs. Waldersdorf, a neighbor from my childhood. According to local legend, she shaved her eye brows as a teenager and they never grew back. She would pencil in a thin curve over each eye with a red-brown pencil, and every year those mini umbrellas rose higher and higher into her hairline. A very nice lady, but a very scary sight to behold.

Ah well, perhaps some small child who witnessed my exit today is writing/telling her/his friends about the weird lady with the red forehead whose eye’s popped out….

Looks like the lizzard spit is working!

2008-01-12T21:29:00.001-05:00

I missed some work because of the side effects, but that is tapering off... My blood sugar has been much better. The only drawback is getting use to leading such a structured life. An hour before breakfast and dinner I take one shot, half an hour later, another, and then I HAVE TO eat a half an hour after that. Makes dining out a bitch. A friend and I went out to dinner on Friday, I took the first shot, we drove to the restaurant (took about 20 minutes) and there was a 45 minute wait for a table. I knew we wouldn't get served by the hour mark, so we had to go somewhere else. Well, we did get to another restaurant. We didn't get our food by the hour, so I ordered a regular pop because I was getting shaky. Everything turned out fine and we had a lovely evening....but still a pain.

In other news, spent the afternoon today with Skeeter and B. God I love that kid!

Our Boy Bing

2008-01-02T23:05:00.000-05:00

Scene: My living room, July 2007. I am reading the newspaper in chair. Eight year old G meanders in...

G: Wheeeere is my boy Bing........

Aunt K: (newspaper is lowered with a rustle) Pardon me?

G: (Sigh...eye roll) Where is my AND your boy Bing...

I love all my pets and they are all special to me, but (shush don't tell) this little boy is my favorite of the cats I have now. He is also the favorite of the two little girls in my life. (Sorry L, sixteen is still little to me.) He has those certain qualities that I love in a cat; he is beautiful , he knows how to suck up, and he will do almost anything for an scratch! Only one other cat is my all-time-favorite, and bless his four-legged soul, he died at the age of 17 almost a decade ago.

Through the Internet grapevine I have heard that G isn't feeling well. So for you Georgie-Porgie, here are some pictures of our Binghee. I was wiggling my fingers in the international sign of Itchie, and he came a running... Love Gugu.

Proper Name: Bingly (Named after a Jane Austen character by L when he was going to be her cat. That was before we discovered her BIG dog "Beelzebub, Hound of Hell" thought he looked really yummie.)

Nicknames: Bing, MR. Bingly, Binghee, Ba-ging-ghee, Kitty-Kitty-Bing-Bing (G's fine four feathered friend,) Bing-a-ling, Bingalbean, Bwackie-Bing (had an identical brother whose 6 year-old owner named Bwackie-Sam, so you know.)and the list keeps growing...

Forbbiden names: Bingo, Itchie-whore (thank you, sister-mine.)

Rotten way to end the year...shakie and in the bathroom.

2007-12-31T21:20:00.000-05:00

I have been having trouble managing my blood sugar for several months now. When the last big study on @v@ndi@ showed it could cause heart problems, I asked to be taken off it. The drug we tried instead didn't really work as well. Poor control means (aside from the long term damage to various body parts,) blood sugar spiking and the urge to eat everything in sight. There was another diabetes med that the endocrinologist wanted me on a year and a half ago, but it was too experimental then and my insurance didn't cover it. I had been seeing advertisements for it all over the TV for about a month, so I checked with the insurance company, and now it is covered. Yeah!!!

I asked this doctor (I have 4 other than my GP to monitor specific parts of my diabetes health.) if she though I show still try it. YES! she said, but there are side-effects.... (insert Duh duh duh-duh music here.) ....mild to moderate nausea is the most common, but loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, feeling jittery, and acid stomach are other potential door prizes. Apparently for most people who do have a "common side effect," it goes away after a few days. Except for the loss of appetite...most people taking this drug lose weight in the long run. Even though it means two more injections a day that have to happen no earlier than 1 hour before I eat breakfast and dinner, I'm giving it a whirl.

I was going to start it last week, but because of those side effects that could have me rushing to the restroom, I decided to wait until I was home. Started Saturday, and I have experienced them all to some degree since Sunday night, but the two "D's" the most. I have to caution myself, because let's not underestimate the power of my hypochondriac, fertile mind. Perhaps I'm only imagining most of the side effect because they have been fairly mild. Except the one big "D" that has me rushing to the restroom. I am NOT imagining THAT!

On the other (and more important hand,) my blood sugar readings are better...not perfect, just better. I will see if I can tolerate the drug for 30 days. If yes, the dose is doubled, if not.....not sure.

The only thing I have to get over now is I just found out the drug is derived from lizard spit. Those of you who know me,know how active my gag reflex is...I've had to swallow three times just writing this.

Well, anyway, Happy New Year!!

Henry had the snott beaten out of him...AGAIN

2007-12-28T23:07:00.000-05:00

What I am I going to do with this orange boy... Oh well, here are his "Glamour Shots."

This time we were beyond my meager ouchie-healing-skills.

Dig the new haircut the Vet gave him. Something chomped on him good!

Making him an indoor boy isn't really an option, yet. He stalks the back door, humming "Born Free" to himself, as he waits to be allowed out on "patrol." He is wily. He is quicker than I am.... And Hankie is also not adverse to using his bodily fluids and bad behavior to get his butt tossed out. Until he outgrows the great outdoors, I guess I'm stuck with wound tending and vet bills. Buzz outgrew it. He use to be be my huge fighting beastie, and now he barely goes out.

Oh well, time to shove another antibiotic down the orange beast's throat.....

Merry Christmas

2007-12-27T22:59:00.000-05:00

Skeeter is the best present EVER!
I think his Mommy is in total agreement
Stockings were hung....
B and Skeeter had to take a nap, waiting up for Santa was just too much for them.

Nobody has to show him how to open a present...He is a natural

Little brother has a blog.....

2007-12-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

I do believe he is one of the funniest people on the planet. Check out his blog, but I warn you...he likes to rant. http://18hourflight.blogspot.com/

It is one of the great injustices of this world...

2007-12-18T22:07:00.000-05:00

...that when we don't make the "tinkle, tinkle tinkle" noise from a "Tom and Jerry" cartoon when we are sneaking around!

We are doing "Secret Santa's " in my section right now and I am having a ball! I went a little rabid a few weeks ago...ranting against the big office wide SS exchange. You get a LIST of the items your Santee will find acceptable! There have been several years where I didn't even know the person whose name I received. Two years ago I had a GREAT scavenger hunt planned where each day the Santee had to go to a different person and answer a movie trivia question and that day's present was related to the quote. It was brilliant, if I do say so myself. She communicated through the coordinator that I should "knock it off," she didn't have times for my games, just leave the present on her desk. I do believe that was the first time I actually sputtered in disbelief...

So this year, I suggested we do our own little thing in our section, with the focus being acts of kindness and appreciation for those we work closest with every day and less on things. Notes, warm cookie, good jokes.... The following is what I left my Santee today. Hehehe

Santa’s Workshop
100 Bowl-Full-of-Jelly Way
North Pole

December 18, 2007

Little Joanne -------
Office of Retirement Services
P O Box -----
Lansing MI, -----
:
You may already be a winner!
This is official notification that you are on one of Santa’s lists. Which list I cannot say, but there is still time to ensure you are in the running for a drawing from Santa’s Big Prize Bag.

To guarantee your status takes just easy three steps: remember to clean your room, eat your vegetables and clean up all the SPEC errors. There is no need to reply to this email, as Santa receives daily updates to both lists, and he checks them TWICE. Hurry, Time is running out!

Phinnaeus J. Jingle-Slipper
Executive Vice President-Elf in charge of Qualifications

P.S. Prizes include the following, so don’t hesitate:
Peace on Earth (1 in 89,652,974,648 chance of winning.)
New Hummer (1 in 533,156,186 chance of winning.)
Kitty, Puppy or Pony (1 in 800,456 chance of winning.)
Lump of Coal (1 in 50 chance of winning.)

Happy Holidays!

Turkey Anyone?

2007-12-16T10:44:00.001-05:00

Every Christmas I volunteer to make the turkey for the extended family Christmas party. In the grand scheme of things,we all have large families if you count back enough, but this family is BIG. My grandfather was the oldest of 12 children. His name was Herman Oscar Napoleon Roslund, and his parents were Swedish immigrants who met and married here in the states When he was 12 (ish?) his family moved to Michigan. My great-grandfather sold everything he owned and, bought his first automobile for the trip. As the oldest and the best English speaker, grandpa's job was to travel by train with the cattle, while the rest of the family drove and they would meet him in Breckenridge. With a loaf of bread and a hunk of cheese, he actually rode with the cattle! When he arrived in Michigan, his family wasn't there to meet him, because my great-grandfather had tried to stop his auto by saying "Whoa!" (or the Swedish equivalent, I guess) and he crashed the car. After he had spent a week alone in a new town, his family finally arrived.

My grandfather died when I was 9, and only three of his brothers remain. The family is spread from coast to cost and some foreign countries, but we gather here in Michigan twice a year. Summer and December. Those who can come do, and we share stories and eat, eat, eat. Babies are kissed, cards are played, and a local Santa makes a visit for $35 and homemade popcorn balls.

Anyway, back to Turkey.....I first got volunteered by my sister when our great-aunt Wanda said she felt she couldn't physically wrestle with a big bird anymore. So then B volunteered me the next year too, and then the next year, and etc. I did get stubborn about 4 years back, and refused to allow B to volunteer me again (I shall spare you the juvenile canter that was) and a cousin of mine made it that year. It was a perfectly nutritional main dish.....if not exactly moist or flavorful, and less memorable than infamous. I was aghast at how something so dull could be done to such a noble bird, my favorite of all the roast beasties..... So now I volunteer myself each year. Have you ever know someone to give gushing complements on turkey, I get them all the time.

It really isn't difficult, the stuffing is made the night before, you get up at 4:30, rinse and pat the bird dry, rub the inside with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Loosen the skin and insert butter. Stuff the body and neck cavities. Finally put it in the electric roaster, breast side down so it doesn't dry out, pour brandy over it and cook at 325 degrees for as many hours as the weight requires. When it is time to leave, we wrap the entire roaster, (drippings and all) in old, clean blankets, put it in the trunk and drive the hour to the hall. Once there, we hall it out, carve the bird and make the gravy.

Today is the day for the party, I was up at 4:30, I made the bird (a 24 pounder) and he is all done and very yummy looking. (As you can see above, I don't make pretty birds, I make tasty birds, with the meat falling off the bone.) My mother's cousin Loren just called, and the party is cancelled. We have received a lot of snow so far, it's still snowing, and we have a weather advisory until 7pm. Although the main roads are plowed, the township hall we are meeting at is on a little county road... Even if we did make it up there, chances are there would only be a few people who were able to make the journey and everybody might have trouble getting home

So...I have turkey and stuffing for a group of 50-60 people....and there are two of us here. We are calling some local friends to see if they want to come to dinner. If you are in the Lansing area, give me jingle. I have a feeling there will be leftovers.

Santa Skeeter

2007-12-08T00:39:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'm taking beading break and thought of something I wanted to show off. Skeeter of course! Here is an early Christmas present to be shared. My favorite little boy proving that it isn't easy being a supermodel. This was the last picture of the day, and way past his nap time. They put him on his tummy, he was bitchy/whiny for a minute, then BOOM out.

And yes, it is their Christmas card shot this year. Ho ho ho!

Friday-Bead-O-Rama

2007-12-07T17:48:00.001-05:00

My mother has recently been actively encouraged to take "early retirement" by her employer. Troubling under the best of circumstances, it is even more so because we share a house, mortgage and utilities. I love my mother, but she is crap with money. I keep seeing myself having to support her, and I barely support myself. I have to actively force myself to not hyperventilate on a regular basis... And lets not not talk about the ulcer (imaginary or not) that I am trying to keep at bay with happier thoughts, pixie dust and M**lox.

She is trying her hand at jewelry making as a source of additional income. I am not talking about about metal working, but stringing beads in an attractive way to form necklaces, bracelets and earrings. No she doesn't suck at it, but her results are not , shall we say, accomplished. She also doesn't have mass production and replication on her mind. She AGONIZES over each piece and spends far more time than she should developing each one as an "original." I keep saying, design it once, make five more at the same time, and then move on. But that's not how she wants to do it. Whew...hand me that paper bag to breath in, will ya.....

Well, there is a craft show tomorrow, her first realistic showing. There was one dreadful experience about a month ago where she only sold three or four items, but it was a very small venue and the foot traffic was anemic. I don't believe anyone sold much, but she pay attention and notice the items people seemed to like, even if they didn't purchase. I think she is getting a bit uneasy about the quantity of her wares, because she has suggested that if I wanted to make some earrings or something, she would sell them for me. Of course since this was all said without looking me straight in the eye, my guilt-o-meter went through the roof and I agreed. The truth is I haven't been very supportive since she did whatever she did to get herself no longer employed, and I have been a mite selfish worrying about ending up homeless and all.

And I'm a procrastinator....I should have been making things for more than a week now, but I have only dabbled with the beads. I have designed three earring sets, and duplicated one design about ten times. So I'll be beading all night as I snarf coffee. I am planning on taking pictures of the earrings I'm making and I'll give you a peek later.

Blood-shot beading, here I come.

Happy Birthday Little Brother

2007-12-06T17:37:00.000-05:00

This is the only picture of A I have available right now, it was his second Meet, Greet and Drool with lil Skeeter last summer.

Of course it isn't As birthday anymore where he lives, but it is still the 6th for me, so Happy Day little brother!

Frosty Gray Sunday Morning

2007-12-02T10:45:00.001-05:00

And it is good for nothing but reading the paper, petting a cat (or five) and a mug of good coffee. I have been chatting with my brother in Taipei via ICQ. Nothing earth shattering or important. Is BK better than Micky Ds? He votes for for BK, because they put big fat pieces of onion on their burgers, I am voting for Micky Ds just to keep the debate going...I like them both.

My siblings are my best friends, and although it is wonderful to have Widgie so close (and Skeeter too,) It is very hard having my brother so far away. Thank you god for the Internet and international phone calls, but it isn't the same as just having him (and Georgie) close. In July he came home for almost a month with his daughter and his ex-wife and it was wonderful, mostly. I spent lots of time with G (Gugu, let's play ART!) and I enjoyed it immensely, even if I did have to take a few naps to keep up with her 8 year old energy. Being a gugu (father’s sister) is a big deal, since I only get to see her once a year if I’m lucky I tried to pack as much as I could into her time here. But the best part was just hanging out with Andrew, even if the day he found green hot sauce in my fridge prompted a 10 minute lecture on why "the abomination" had no place in my condiment drawer. I introduced him to N*tflix, and we watched movies, mostly Japanese horror and their American remakes to compare. Verdict: Japanese originals had better, more complex stories, but the American remakes scared the bejesus out of ya.)

Coffee needs a refill and my boy Bing is meowing for attention. Have a good Sunday.

Skeeter Night

2007-11-30T11:40:00.000-05:00

Tuesday's and Thursdays are Skeeter Night! I go to my sister's house directly from work, mooch their food and play with little Reed. The kid is loved, no doubt about it and there are many folks who consider him their special one. I like to think he loves me best...and so far no one has proved me wrong. He always has a big smile for me. Reed looks at his sock covered feet then to me. And again. And again.... Obviously he is saying, "come on Aunt Kay, take these off and kiss my piggies!" So I do, because who can refuse such a beseeching request, even if it is just wishful thinking on my part.

And we have rules. Just a few so far, but important ones.

You don't put your fingers up Aunt Kay's nose, she won't put her finger's up yours.
Don't pee on Aunt Kay! (Usually quickly recited in a high pitched voice while changing a diaper.)
Hair! Hair! We don't pull hair!
Piggies must be free! (Actually, our mantra as the socks are whipped off.)

The list will be growing, I'm sure... I see the day coming when we have to add such items as "Don't eat the yellow snow" or "We don't play with the litter box!" But not yet.

Skeeter and I play, sing songs and his parents laugh at me more than a little. I always stay too long. I try to start leaving at around 8:00 pm, but he will be extra cute, or my sister will change the subject and we keep talking or something..and before you know it, it's time for Skeeter's bath. You can't leave during nakie baby time! So I stay for bath time, and help put him in his PJ's. I don't end up leaving until 10:00.

Evil genius that sister of mine...she always finds a way to keep me there.

Mermaid Sighting

2007-11-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

Fresh pictures of little G. How can one little body take up so much bed!!

Below we have a sign she posted on her bedroom door. The translation was done by my brother.

Aye Matey! There be a mermaid about! The costume is a part of the Halloween/birthday package from Aunt Kay and Grandma. She loves to dress-up so I purchased two costumes the mermaid and a medieval maiden ("That's a PRINCESS dress" my brother insists.)

He said she liked the mermaid costume best. What do you think?

She feels quite gypped by having feet instead of a tail. My brother explained that we are primates, but she is unconsoled. Nobody gave her a vote.

Apparently, she sleeps in it too.

That will be a katrillion dollars to fix the thingamajunk on your car, Ma’am…

2007-11-15T15:32:00.000-05:00

I loath having to have any work done on my car. I am sure that “clueless car-phoebe” is in blinking neon on my forehead on those dreaded instances when I have to take my car in. The thing is, its not totally because I’m a girl, because my brother has the same problem. I think its because there was no person who fiddled or tinkered with cars in the house when we were children after 1980. That is the year my father died. He was a friggin genius! First guy in his town to go to college, graduated THE top of his class from Michigan Technological University. He was an engineer with Oldsmobile. There were several summers where they sent him to Georgia to figure our why machinery in whole plants weren’t working properly. He was never happier then solving a problem or making a machine more efficient. Nobody in my neighborhood called repairmen, they called my Dad. The winter after he died there was a flood of new repair worker immigration into a neighborhood that had formally been a “plumber’s crack” free zone.

So I had to have my brake light repaired. At least that’s what the nice police officer that only gave me a warning instead of a ticket had said. While I had to be in my least favorite place, I was going to be sensible and have the rear window defrost fixed too. My car is small enough that I CAN keep the rear window clear by blasting the heater on high…but in order to do so I sit in the front seat sweating bullets. Verrry attractive and comfortable! The estimate for the brake light was $68.00, but the estimated reattaching of the bracket that had become dislodged from the rear window was $350.00! No, no…typing it like that is too tame…THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS. I had gone to the dealership because I HAD been ripped off in the past from smaller independent shops, what was this? (I figure the fact that the dealership wants to sell me my next car will help to keep honesty within my grasp.) But I NEEDED to have them fixed…. So I said to proceed.
In the end, The agent I dealt with had been conservative, and the estimate too high. My cost was only $98.00, total. The moral of my story should probably be something about facing fear or trying to be more informed, but no. I totally lucked out and next time the auto repair gods will have their vengeance, I'm sure of it. God I hate to have my car fixed!

Happy Birthday!

2007-11-12T19:39:00.000-05:00

There have just been three important birthdays in my family, all within 5 days. On Friday 11/9 my newest BBF Skeeter turned 4 months old. Two days later on 11/11 my other BFF Georgie turned 9 years old, and tomorrow on 11/13 my "other" brother, the father of Skeeter, (AKA brother-in-law) turns 34. In honor of this, I would like to share some pictures of cute little Skeeter, lovely G and new dad E.

With the exception of Skeeter in his Halloween costume, the pictures were all taken this past July. Skeeter was new, G was visiting from Taipei, and E still remembered what sleeping through the night was like. Happy Birthday!!!

Henry had the snott beaten out of him yesterday...

2007-11-06T19:36:00.000-05:00

He is one of the cats previously mentioned. He is huge, orange and white, and if he had his own set of thumbs to operate the back door, he wouldn't need me at all. Except when he is hurt. Then he is a big fat baby...

I washed his wounds with soap and water, mostly to determine how badly he was hurt and if I needed to be late to work and hustle him to the vet. I've had cats since I was six, and I can handle most minor cat injuries myself. A little wound on his hind foot, a puncture on his ear was the source of most of the blood, and a lot of little scrapes. I think the greatest wounding was to his pride, not from being thoroughly whomped, but from the indignity of my first-aid skills. That boy bitched me out! I bundled him up and he slept for almost 18 hours. Two hours ago he was begging to go outside again. Guess he has a grudge to settle. It will have to wait for another day, at least until he has stopped limping.

I have five cats in all, and that is more than plenty. Three is my "happy cat" number, but seven years ago I found a stray who was too wonderful not to save. She had obviously been someones pet. Friendly, skinny, de-clawed, and (I thought) fixed, she ended up having 4 babies on my brand new (purple) Egyptian cotton sheets. After years of finding homes for kittens, I had run out of friends needing cats and could only find homes for half the kittens. Let me tell you, the potty box gets full fast with 6 cats. Three years ago we lost the the oldest mamma cat, she was 18. She had originally been my sister's cat, but when she moved into an apartment, Tootsie didn't adapt to high-rise living as an indoor cat. She spent three days under the guest bed yowling. Constantly. Finally B called me, begging me to take her back. Tootsie never forgave her for those three days. When we finally had to put her down, B, her husband E and I took her in. The Vet asked who's cat she was, and simultaneously we all said "Mine!" So now I'm "down" to five cats.

Oddly enough for someone who has had cats for most of her life, I don't like all cats. I love MY cats. I raised them right. They make me laugh. So call me a cat snob, but please god, DO NOT call me the cat lady! :)

What the heck! Why not purple?

2007-11-04T19:49:00.000-05:00

What do you name a blog? I have been reading other's blogs and thought it might be interesting to have one of my own. Today seems to be THE day to start, and so WHAT do you call it? Don't want it to be too pretentious, I don't take myself that seriously. But I don't really want to seem a twitty 14 year old....not that being a twitty 14 year old is bad. I personally believe being a twit should legally only be allowed to the very young, and I no longer qualify. Should be something related to me...name it after the cat? Which one? (yes, I have oodles of cats, but that is definitely a subject for later :) After the new nephew or the older niece? While they are two of the cutest kids on the planet (no argument, EVER!) and I shall be writing about them, they are not the center of my world all the time. Okay, how about a color....my favorite color is purple, what the heck! Why not purple?